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Sun Safety for Kids

The SunWise School Program

Sun Safety for Kids

The SunWise School Program
Day after day, as school bells echo

through the hallways, millions of

kids across the nation stream out

of their classrooms and into sun-filled school

yards, playgrounds, and sports fields. While

this is a familiar childhood scene, it also is one

that, without proper precautions, could endanger

the health of students. Too

much exposure to the sun’s

ultraviolet (UV) rays can be harmful to anyone’s health—particularly that of a child. 

In the atmosphere, the ozone layer forms a

shield that protects the Earth from the sun’s

powerful UV radiation. Scientists have discovered, however, that the ozone layer is thinning and allowing more UV rays to reach the

Earth’s surface. Combined with current sun

exposure behaviors, the thinning of the ozone

layer may increase the chance of overexposure

for adults and children. Too much exposure

to UV radiation can cause serious health

problems such as skin cancer,

cataracts, and immune

system suppression. 
To promote sun-safe behavior at an early age, the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the

SunWise School Program, a national environmental and

health education program for children. Through the use of classroom,

school, and community components, SunWise promotes sun safety by

teaching children and their caregivers how to protect themselves from

overexposure to UV radiation. 

The SunWise School Program builds upon traditional and innovative

health and science practices already used by U.S. elementary and middle schools, focusing on simple steps students and teachers can take to

prevent overexposure to the sun. While SunWise students learn about

the environmental concepts related to sun protection, they also develop

the ability to practice sustained healthenhancing behaviors. 

SunWise was developed in cooperation

with schools and educators. Providing

maximum flexibility, the program’s elements

can be used as stand-alone teaching tools or

as supplements to existing school activities. The time commitment necessary to

take part in SunWise is minimal, while the potential payoff is enormous.
One in every five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. This disease, one of the most

serious UV-related health effects, can begin with a simple sunburn that happens years before skin cancer may

develop.

It is important to remember that children of all skin types need to be protected from overexposure to the sun. While it is true

that the incidence of skin cancer is lower in dark-skinned individuals, the disease still occurs in all skin types.

The risk of other UV-related health effects, such as eye damage and immune suppression, is not dependent upon skin type, and all children must be protected.

By teaching children to take some basic precautions when they’re out in the sun—such

as wearing protective clothing and sunglasses, using sunscreen, and seeking shade—

teachers, nurses, parents, and other caregivers can instill life-long protective

habits that reduce the risk of future UV-related health problems. 

S

unWise is a fun and easy way to protect the health of

children. Any school can participate free of charge,

from single or multiple classrooms to entire schools,

or even school districts. The program is designed for

kindergarten through eighth-grade, with specific ageappropriate materials available for all learning levels. A random sample of participants will be asked

to complete the SunWise Student Survey before and

after implementing at least one of a range of SunWise

activities. Following are some of the activities that SunWise

schools can choose to undertake:
By joining EPA’s SunWise School Program, participants

will have access to the following useful tools to help

teach sun-safe behaviors in the classroom:

• SunWise Tool Kit–includes cross-curricular, standards-based

lessons designed for kindergarten through eighth-grade learning levels and features a range of activities and background

information. Schools also will receive tools to help implement

sun safety school policies, events, structural changes, and

community partnerships.

• The SunWise Internet Learning Site and UV Database–is an

interactive medium where students can report and interpret

the daily UV Index and link to additional Web-based educational

activities and resources. 

• Additional Materials–

video, posters, 

incentives, Webbased activities,

and more.

• Teaching cross-curricular classroom lessons and activities.

• Chart, graph, and map UV measurements on

our Internet Learning Site.

• Holding schoolwide sun safety events

and assemblies.

• Improving school policies and structural designs to reduce

students’ exposure to the most intense UV rays and provide

more shade structures on school grounds.

• Reaching out to the community by forming partnerships with

local businesses and organizations or by hosting guest speakers. 
Checking out television, radio, newspaper, and Internet

weather forecasts in many cities across the country can now

give you access to a powerful sun safety tool—the UV

Index. The UV Index assigns a number to the next day’s likely UV

radiation levels and categorizes the level of exposure risk for people

who plan to be outdoors. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) calculates the UV Index so

that the public can schedule outdoor activities to avoid dangerous

overexposure to the sun. You can find the daily, ZIP code-searchable

UV Index on the SunWise Web site at <www.epa.gov/sunwise>. The

UV Index predicts UV radiation levels on a 0 to 10+ scale in the following way:

While it is always important to take precautions against overexposure

to the sun, both children and adults should take particular care to

practice sun-safe behaviors when the UV Index is moderate or higher.

Watch for changes to the UV Index in 2004. 
Protect yourself and your children from overexposure to

UV radiation. Taking the simple precautions listed

below can ensure you enjoy safe fun in the sun.

Limit time in the midday sun as much as possible.

The sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 

4 p.m. To the extent you can, limit exposure to sun during

those hours.

Watch for the UV Index. Always take precautions against

overexposure, but take special care to adopt sun safety

practices when the UV Index is moderate or higher.

Put on sunglasses. Sunglasses that provide 99 to 100 percent

UVA and UVB protection will greatly reduce eye damage from

sun exposure. 

Wear a hat. A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection

for your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck. 

Seek shade. Staying under cover or indoors is one of the best

ways to protect yourself from the sun. 

Protect other areas of your body

with clothing. Wearing tightlywoven, loose-fitting, and full-length

clothing is a good way to protect

your skin from harmful UV rays.

Always use sunscreen. Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection

factor of 15 or higher liberally, and reapply every 2

hours or after working, swimming, playing, or exercising outdoors. Consult your doctor about sunscreen use for children under 6 months.

Avoid sunlamps and tanning salons. The light

source from sunbeds and sunlamps can damage the

skin and unprotected eyes.
Office of Air and Radiation

(6205J)

EPA430-F-03-011

June 2003

www.epa.gov/sunwise